Former League Trio Looks to Make Mark in Japan
The Tohoku Free Blades, the newest member of the Asia League Ice
Hockey (ALIH), recently announced the signings of former Rensselaer
standouts Steve Munn and Brad Farynuk, and former Colgate standout
Jon Smyth for the team’s inaugural season.
The Free Blades, who were added to the ALIH in April 2009 upon the
recommendation of the Japan Ice Hockey Federation, added the former
ECAC Hockey trio in mid-August.
Smyth, a native of Markham, Ontario, joins the Free Blades after
spending the past three seasons competing in Germany with Landsberg
2000 EV (2007-08) and Schwenningen ERC (2007-09). In 89 contests,
Smyth compiled 33 goals and 42 assists. A forward, Smyth starred at
Colgate from 2002 through 2006.
Munn, who starred at RPI from 1998 through 2002, heads to Japan
after one year in Great Britain, playing for the Sheffield
Steelers. The North Battleford, Saskatchewan native played in 54
games with the Steelers, amassing five goals and 10 assists.
Farynuk, an Engineers standout from 2002 through 2006, heads
overseas after spending the 2008-09 campaign between South Carolina
of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and Quad City of the
American Hockey League (AHL). A defenseman, Farynuk played in 67
games, 50 with South Carolina, and compiled 12 goals and 22
assists.
